Republicans are expressing significant reservations about former President Donald Trump's recent campaign promise to issue a $5,000 dividend to every adult citizen if the party secures victories in the upcoming midterm elections.

Trump announced the proposal at a rally in Dallas, stating that the payments would be made "because of our tremendous economic success" and would need to be spent within the United States. He did not provide specific details on how the plan would be funded.

The pledge has drawn criticism from some within the Republican party, who have labeled it a "bribe" and expressed concerns about its potential economic impact. Estimates suggest the plan could cost between $1 trillion and $1.3 trillion, potentially increasing the national debt and exacerbating inflation.

"For the record, I am hugely in favor of winning the midterms, and love much about this admin, but am strongly against bread and circus bribes," wrote Joe Lonsdale, co-founder of Palantir and a GOP donor, on social media.

Texas Congressman Chip Roy questioned the financial feasibility, writing, "I would like to know how they would plan to pay for … back of envelope … well over $1 trillion." Senator Ted Cruz of Texas also indicated a preference for restrictions on who would receive the funds, noting the initiative would cost "a massive amount."

Rep. Thomas Massie of Kentucky, a vocal Trump critic, stated on X, "I don’t know about you all, but frankly I’m insulted by the notion that my vote this November could be bought for 5k." He also humorously added, "Not to mention the inflation this would cause. All things considered, I cannot in good conscience accept a penny less than 10k!"

This is not the first time Trump has floated dividend-like proposals. Previous promises include a $5,000 "DOGE dividend" and a $2,000 "tariff dividend," neither of which have been disbursed. The administration did, however, issue a $1,776 "warrior dividend" to military officials in December 2025.

IMAGE2

Former Congresswoman Marjorie Taylor Greene appeared to reference these past pledges, chiding, "$5,000 for the peasants will be in the mail after the election only if you vote Republican, along with those DOGE and tariff money checks."

However, some Republican lawmakers have voiced support for the idea. Senator Bernie Moreno indicated he would prepare legislation to pass the "Trump Dividend" after the election, expressing confidence in a Republican victory.

Any new payment program would require congressional approval. Senate Republican Leader John Thune remained non-committal when asked about the party's appetite for such a proposal, telling Fox News, "That's a good question. We will cross that bridge when we come to it."

IMAGE3

In a separate development, Trump also announced on Thursday that his administration would issue $500 rebate checks to nearly one million Americans who were allegedly overcharged through Obamacare. "Our administration is doing the right thing and giving the money back to the people who were wrongly ripped off," Trump said in a video address.

IMAGE4